Hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform

ABSTRACT

A platform ( 10 ) allows for hand exercise and wrist massage in self-administration situations. The hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform ( 10 ) comprises a base pad ( 20 ), a kneadable mound ( 30 ) projecting upward from the base pad ( 20 ), and a massaging stage ( 40 ) located forward of the mound ( 30 ). As a person&#39;s hands are exercised by kneading mound ( 30 ), his/her wrists are massaged by the stage ( 40 ). Alternatively, a person can stand above the platform ( 10 ) and exercise his/her hands by kneading the mound ( 30 ).

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/400,360 filed on Jul. 27, 2010,the entire disclosure of this provisional patent application is herebyincorporated by reference. Should any inconsistencies exist between theincorporated provisional patent application and the present disclosure,the latter governs to the extent necessary to resolve definitenessissues.

BACKGROUND

The carpal tunnel is a narrow channel in the wrist formed by ligamentand bone. Tendons and nerves pass through the carpel tunnel on route tothe hand. When these tendons are stressed, they swell inside the carpeltunnel and compress adjacent nerves. This compression causes numbnessand/or weakness in the hand and can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

SUMMARY

A self-administration platform is provided which can be used for thetreatment of carpal tunnel and other arm-hand-wrist conditions. Theplatform allows hand exercising in manner imitating the motions ofkneading dough and at the same time massages the wrists in a mannerknown to relieve discomfort. The hand-exercising and wrist-massagingplatform can be used conveniently in almost any home setting without apower source and/or without the supervision of medical personnel.

DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 show front and rear views of the hand-exercising andwrist-massaging platform.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, a hand-exercising and wrist-massagingplatform 10 is shown. The illustrated platform 10 comprises a base pad20, a kneadable mound 30, and a relatively firm stage 40. The mound 30is adapted for hand kneading to provide hand exercise and the stage 40is adapted for wrist engaging to provide wrist massage as the mound 30is being kneaded. The platform 10 can also comprise raised ridge 50adapted to angle arm for optimum wrist massaging by the stage.

The base pad 20 has a top surface 21, a front wall 22, a rear wall 23,and lateral walls 24. The kneadable mound 30 projects upward from thebase pad 20 (i.e., upward from its top surface 21) and resides on rearregion of the base pad 20. The stage 40 is located forward of the mound30 and resides on mid region of the base pad 20. And the raised ridge 50is located forward of the stage 40 and resides on a front region of thebase pad 20.

The base pad 20 can have a generally rectangular plan shape with roundedrear corners, and a substantially uniform thickness. The pad 20 can bepreferably dimensioned for use on standard tables, desks, and other flatsurfaces. Additionally or alternatively, a stiff mat 60 can bepositioned under the base pad 20 to serve as a sturdy foundation for itand its topographic items.

The mound 30 can comprise any projected mass which allows kneadingactions (e.g., pushing, pressing, pulling, pinching, etc.) to beperformed thereon. In the illustrated platform 10, the mound 30 has aramp-like shape with a top wall 31 slanting upward in the rearwarddirection. A rear wall 32 and side walls 33 connect the top wall 31 tothe base pad 20. Other slanted, non-slanted, curved, and/or random moundgeometries are possible and contemplated.

The stage 40 comprises, in the illustrated platform 10, a pair of bumpyrostrums 41 situated to receive both wrists. The rostrums 41 can beparabolic in shape, as shown, with their apexes pointed in the forwarddirection. Depending upon platform design, they may be recessed, raised,and/or flush relative to the top surface 21 of the base pad 20. Ribs 42can project outward from the rostrums 41 for massaging engagement withthe wrists.

Although the stage 40 comprises a rostrum 41 for each wrist, this neednot be the case. A single rostrum 41 can be provided to accommodate bothwrists of a person using the platform 10. Or the platform 10 can bedesigned for use with only arm, whereby only one rostrum 41 would beprovided. Additionally or alternatively, other types of ribs and non-ribmassaging features can be utilized in the rostrum 41.

The illustrated ridge 50 comprises a rounded hill occupying the frontedge region of the base pad 20. The ridge's top wall 51 reaches from thepad's front wall 22 to its top surface 21, and the ridge's side wall 52connects the top wall 51 thereto. The height of the ridge 50 can begreater than that of stage 40 and/or less than that of the kneadablemound 30.

The base pad 20, the kneadable mound 30, the stage 40, and the ridge 50may be formed in one piece. Specifically, for example, an elastomericcasing, having a configuration corresponding to the platform profile,can surround a core having the desired characteristics of the pad 20,the mound 30, the stage 40, and the ridge 50.

To use the platform 10, a person would situate his/her arm so that thehand is positioned palm-down to knead the mound 30 and the wrist engagesthe stage 40. With two-handed design, as is illustrated, both hands arepositioned palm-down on the mound 30 and both wrists engage the stage40. The mound 30 is then kneaded with the hand or hands, whereby wristmassaging simultaneously occurs. The kneading motion can entail, forexample, the pressing-pushing-pulling actions done when kneading doughfor bread baking.

Additionally or alternatively, a person can stand adjacent to the rearwall 23 of the base pad 20 and extend his/her arms downward to thekneading mound 30. The mound 30 can then pressed-pushed-pulled-pinchedin a dough-kneading fashion. By standing above the device, the personwould be able to exert more pressure and his/her movements would moreclosely imitate kneading actions.

The platform 10 can be heated or cooled prior to kneading to enhance itstherapeutic effects. In a home setting, this heating/cooling can beaccomplished with ordinary kitchen appliances. The platform 10 can beheated, for example, in a microwave. And/or it can be cooled, forexample, in a food refrigerator.

The platform 10 can be constructed in any suitable manner allowing it tobe used in the desired setting. The pad 20, the mound 30, the stage 40,and the ridge 50 can be formed in one piece during platform production.Such a one-piece construction can comprise, for example, a one-piececore surrounded by a one-piece core. Alternatively, multiple coremembers and/or plural casing parts can be assembled together to form theplatform 10.

In any event, the platform core can be constituted non-uniformly so asto have distinct properties depending upon its corresponding component.For example, the pad core portion can have rigid qualities, the moundcore portion can have kneadable consistencies, the stage core portioncan have a firm feel, and the ridge core portion can have cushioningattributes. This can be accomplished by different core compositionsand/or curing techniques being employed.

Additionally or alternatively, core portions can incorporate materialscausing or enhancing their desired characteristics. The rigid/firmportions (e.g., the pad/stage portions) can adopt reinforcing beams,rods, or plates. The kneadable portion can adopt pellets, ovoids, balls,or other granular objects that are movable with each other a generallyfluidic non-friction fashion. The ridge portion can integrate foam orother cushioning packing.

In some cases, however, the core can comprise the same materialthroughout the platform 10, as the geometries of the topographiccomponents will result in the desired characteristics. The relativelylarge mass of the mound 30, for example, would result in it being morecompressible or “kneadable” than the thinner stage 40, especially whenthe pad 20 is supported on a sturdy stratum. For similar reasons, theridge 50 could be cushionable, but not necessarily kneadable, due to itsproportional size.

The casing could be, for example, cloth, latex, nylon, polyester, orother covering that appropriately encases the core. The casing can beelastic and/or resilient to provide or enhance the compliancy ofappropriate platform parts (e.g., the mound 30 and/or the ridge 50).Alternatively, the casing can be nonelastic and/or nonresilient wherebythe core is relied upon to convey these characteristics.

A single molded structure constituting both the core and the casing isalso feasible and foreseeable.

One may now appreciate that the hand-exercising and wrist-massagingplatform 10 can be used for the treatment of carpal tunnel and otherarm-hand-wrist conditions. Although the platform 10, the base pad 20,the kneading mound 30, the massaging stage 40, the ridge 50, and/or theunderlay 60 have been shown in described with respect to one or moreembodiments, modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in theart without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) comprising: abase pad (20); a kneadable mound (30) projecting upward from the basepad (20) and adapted for hand kneading to provide hand exercise; and arelatively firm stage (40) located forward of the kneading mound (30) onthe base pad (20) and adapted for wrist engaging to provide wristmassage when the kneading mound (30) is being kneaded for hand exercise.2. A hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the base pad (20), the kneadable mound (30), and thestage (40) are formed in one piece during platform production, saidone-piece production comprising a core surrounded by a one-piece casingor a one-piece core surrounding by a casing.
 3. A hand-exercising andwrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein multiplecore members and/or plural casing parts are assembled together to formthe base pad (20), the kneading mound (30), the bumpy rostrums (41) andthe raised ridge (50) in one piece during platform production.
 4. Ahand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim1, further comprising a raised ridge (50) located on the base pad (20)forward of the stage (40) and adapted to angle an arm for optimum wristmassaging by the stage (40) when the kneading mound (30) is beingkneaded for hand exercise.
 5. A hand-exercising and wrist-massagingplatform (10) as set forth in claim 4, wherein the base pad (20), thekneading mound (30), the stage (40), and the raised ridge (50) areformed in one piece, said one-piece production comprising a coresurrounded by a one-piece casing or a one-piece core surrounding by acasing.
 6. A hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as setforth in claim 4, wherein multiple core members and/or plural casingparts are assembled together to form the base pad (20), the kneadingmound (30), the stage (40), and the raised ridge (50) in one pieceduring platform production.
 7. A hand-exercising and wrist-massagingplatform (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stage (40) comprisesat least one bumpy rostrum (41) for engaging receipt of a wrist when thekneading mound (30) is being kneaded for hand exercise.
 8. Ahand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim6, wherein the bumpy rostrum (41) comprises upwardly protrudingmassaging ribs (42).
 9. A hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform(10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stage (40) comprises two bumpyrostrums (41) for engaging receipt of two wrists when the kneading mound(30) is being kneaded by two hands for hand exercise.
 10. Ahand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim9, wherein the bumpy rostrums (41) each comprise upwardly protrudingmassaging ribs (42).
 11. A hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform(10) as set forth in claim 9, wherein the base pad (20), the kneadingmound (30), and the bumpy rostrums (41), are formed in one piece duringplatform production, said one-piece production comprising a coresurrounded by a one-piece casing or a one-piece core surrounding by acasing.
 12. A hand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as setforth in claim 9, wherein multiple core members and/or plural casingparts are assembled together to form the base pad (20), the kneadingmound (30), the bumpy rostrums (41) and the raised ridge (50) in onepiece during platform production.
 13. A hand-exercising andwrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim 8, furthercomprising a raised ridge (50) located on the base pad (20) forward ofthe stage (40) and adapted to angle both arms for optimum wristmassaging by the bumpy rostrums (41) when the kneading mound (30) isbeing kneaded for hand exercise.
 14. A hand-exercising andwrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim 15, wherein the basepad (20), the kneading mound (30), the bumpy rostrums (41), and theraised ridge (50) are formed in one piece during platform production,said one-piece production comprising a core surrounded by a one-piececasing or a one-piece core surrounding by a casing.
 15. Ahand-exercising and wrist-massaging platform (10) as set forth in claim13, wherein multiple core members and/or plural casing parts areassembled together to form the base pad (20), the kneading mound (30),the bumpy rostrums (41) and the raised ridge (50) in one piece duringplatform production.
 16. A method of using the platform (10) set forthin claim 1, said method comprising the steps of situating a person'shand on the kneadable mound (30) and kneading the mound (30) with thishand.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said situating stepcomprises situating both of the person's hands on the kneadable moundand wherein said kneading step comprising kneading the kneadable mound(30) with both hands.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 17, whereinsaid situating step comprises situating the person's arms so that bothwrists engage the firm stage (40) whereby both wrists will be massagedduring said kneading step.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 17,wherein said situating step comprises standing above the platform (10)and extending the person's arms downward to the kneadable mound (30).20. A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step ofheating or cooling the platform (10).